Hello and welcome to The Midge, the e-bulletin that takes a bite out of politics in Scotland and elsewhere.
Front pages
In The Herald, UK political editor Michael Settle reports on PM Theresa May’s speech to the Conservative conference in Birmingham, and the SNP’s reaction. Education correspondent Andrew Denholm reveals the findings of a report on the standard of primary school education in Clackmannanshire.
Most papers lead on the May speech, with The National saying the attack on “divisive nationalists” has sparked “fury”, while the Sun says Mrs May and Ms Sturgeon are “at war” on Brexit.
The Times says among those against Mrs May’s intention to start negotiations straight away are German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The FT says Mrs May’s speech was “the clearest sign yet” she wants a clean break from the single market.
In the Evening Times, Hannah Rodger speaks to rape victims about their ordeals.
Camley’s Cartoon
Despite what you may have heard, Camley finds agreement has broken out between PM Theresa May and FM Nicola Sturgeon.
FFS: Five in five seconds
1. What’s the story? A Jeremy Paxman/Michael Howard-style tussle took place on the BBC's Sunday Politics Scotland yesterday between Gordon Brewer and Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson. Its subject: Boris Johnson.
2. Do tell? Paxman famously asked Howard 12 times whether he threatened to overrule the then prisons chief Derek Lewis. Brewer challenged Ms Davidson three times to say, “I have confidence in Boris Johnson”.
3. What did she say? First attempt: “I've always had confidence in the role of the foreign secretary”. Then: “"I sat down with Boris, we had a very good meeting and he is taking the role incredibly seriously. He's a man who speaks five languages, he's worked on the continent of Europe, he worked in Brussels for many years and was born in America, which is our greatest trading partner. In terms of qualifications for the job he's got them in spades and he's applying himself to the job. I think that shows a real will. He's wanting to engage with the Scottish government, he's wanting to engage with Scotland.” And finally: "I have more confidence in Boris Johnson now that I've sat down with him than I had before, there you go.”
4. What’s the beef between them? Like many Tories, there was making up to be done after the EU referendum campaign, particularly so between Davidson and Johnson after she had accused him, during a live TV debate, of “'selling a lie’”. Add to this her championing of blue collar conservatism while Johnson hails from the Bullingdon set, and the fact she got on very well with David Cameron, seen by many as a victim of Boris’s EU betrayal.
5. Does it matter? Ms Davidson told a fringe meeting at the Tory conference in Birmingham yesterday that she set herself a 10-year plan in 2011, ending in her becoming First Minister. That would put her in power in 2021. By that time, there could be a new Tory leader in Westminster. Blonde, populist, used to be Foreign Secretary…
Afore Ye Go
“If Scotland marshals its forces across the party divide, together with Wales and Northern Ireland …. it can make a real difference to the Brexit outcome. In effect, we need Scotland to help ensure that the UK government is saved from itself."
New Labour architect Peter Mandelson writes in the Times. Getty Images
“We will negotiate as one United Kingdom and we will leave the EU as one United Kingdom. There is no opt out from Brexit. I will never allow divisive nationalists to undermine the precious Union between the four nations of our United Kingdom.”
PM Theresa May addresses her party’s conference in Birmingham. Brexit talks will start by next March. Ben Birchall/PA Wire
PM going out of her way to say Scotland's voice and interests don't matter. Strange approach from someone who wants to keep UK together.
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 2, 2016
$916 million
The loss declared by Donald Trump on his 1995 income tax return, as revealed by the New York Times. The size of the loss would mean he did not have to pay federal taxes for 18 years, the paper estimates. Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images
How did Alec Baldwin get on as Trump on Saturday Night Live? Watch:
“It amazes me that I’m married to an Englishman and have English-speaking children, because I feel so Scottish - it’s the very core of who I am.”
Broadcaster Kirsty Young in conversation with John Bishop for his new show on Sky W channel. Eamonn M McCormack/Getty Images
Why do we let half-educated tenement Scots run our English press ? Because their craving for social status makes them obedient retainers ? https://t.co/uCXEvbZssE
— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) October 2, 2016
John Cleese on Fraser Nelson, Scot and editor of the Spectator.
Let's try replacing the word 'Scots' with any other minority and see how that sentence reads. Snobby and racist twaddle. Yuk. https://t.co/qeoPAj37m6
— JOHN NICOLSON M.P. (@MrJohnNicolson) October 3, 2016
SNP MP John Nicolson hits back at Cleese.
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s mine. It’s in my safekeeping and I’ll leave it to the nation in my will.”
What former Treasury minister David Laws, right, said when the National Archives and the Treasury asked him to handover departing minister Liam Byrne’s now infamous note, stating: “I’m afraid there is no money.” Henley Literary Festival. PA Wire
“At the TV studio, Sturgeon is wearing a green suit, the same colour as the set backdrop, and says she’ll change. I realise the craziness of my position: I’m talking to a woman whose main purpose in life is to break up the UK, hoping she will help us win the referendum.”
From former Downing Street communications director Craig Oliver’s memoir, Unleashing Demons. Mail on Sunday. Above, at the BuzzFeed News/Facebook debate via Getty Images.
“An international superstar of f***wittery.”
An aide to strategist Lynton Crosby’s description of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn during the EU referendum campaign. Unleashing Demons. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
“That’s a sight I don’t wish to see again.”
Strictly judge Craig Revel Hall is unmoved by Ed Balls’s country and western themed Charleston. Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire
The routine brought the Twitter wags out in force:
On way back from a night out and so only watching this now. @edballs is brilliant!!! https://t.co/vfHvgzfTpl
— Blair McDougall (@blairmcdougall) October 1, 2016
Want to feel old?
— General Boles (@GeneralBoles) October 2, 2016
This is what Shaun from This Is England looks like now. pic.twitter.com/cu0FLXk9zq
Delighted for @edballs - a labour victory we can all celebrate
— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) October 2, 2016
The Charlatan more like.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) October 2, 2016
You were superb @edballs - giving all we dreadful but determined dad dancers a good name. https://t.co/0JzJNiplcq
Well I don't think there was a single un-gifable second of that @EdBalls. Ten years worth of license fee in two glorious minutes.
— Tom Peck (@tompeck) October 1, 2016
Ladies & Gentlemen please welcome to the stage...
— Sketchaganda (@sketchaganda) October 2, 2016
ED BRENT!#Strictly #EdBalls pic.twitter.com/1qqL7MjUVB
if @edballs makes it to #strictly final all living labour leaders past&present surely have to be in the audience, no?
— Gaby Hinsliff (@gabyhinsliff) October 1, 2016
"I actually did one thing that Nicola Sturgeon didn't do – I managed to get a close family member elected.”
Scottish Secretary David Mundell referring to his MSP son, Oliver. The FM’s father, Robin, was the unsuccessful SNP candidate at a North Ayrshire Council by-election in August. Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
Apologies to our passengers, following an earlier incident involving a wild boar, speed restrictions are in place.
— Eurostar (@Eurostar) October 2, 2016
One gets a better class of delay announcement on Eurostar...
We are LIVE at St. John the Divine for a blessing of the animals https://t.co/8rrjSf7eDc pic.twitter.com/l4RVehqm6g
— New York Post Metro (@nypmetro) October 2, 2016
Only in New York ...
Thanks for reading. See you tomorrow. Twitter: @alisonmrowat
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